Cheese vault

ABSTRACT

A food storage container including a bottom side having bottom surface features with differential heights, sides with at least one pair of opposing vertical channels; at least one divider panel sized for selective placement in the opposing vertical channels, and a lid. The divider panel has an upper edge that sealingly engages the lid and a lower edge that sealingly engages the bottom surface of the bottom side. Food placed on the bottom surface can breathe without passing odors to food in a neighboring compartment.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/296,272, filed Feb. 17, 2016 (Feb. 17, 2016), which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

THE NAMES OR PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates most generally to food storage containers, and more particularly to reusable containers for storing foods in a refrigerator, and still more particularly to a dividable cheese storage container for storing one or more cheeses in divided compartments in the same container, which allows blocks of cheese to breathe and sweat, but which also prevents the migration of odors and flavors from one cheese to another.

Background Discussion

Les aficionados du fromage (cheese cognoscenti) will tell you: when in France, do as the French do, and store your stinky cheeses by putting them out on an outside windowsill.

Then again, we're not in France, and just about everywhere in the civilized world (including France, to be entirely accurate) people store their cheese all too often improperly by wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap. This is an especially bad way to store and refrigerate “stinky” cheeses. A tight plastic wrap promotes bacterial proliferation and prevents the cheese from breathing properly. It can also allow the cheese to absorb chemicals and even flavor from the plastic wrap.

A preferred approach, for cheeses generally (not just stinky cheese), is to wrap the cheese in layers of wax paper, and then to cover with foil or plastic wrap, before placing it in the refrigerator. Wrapping cheeses in wax paper and then storing them in a glass container is also accepted by the cognoscenti. Interestingly, with respect to especially stinky cheeses, even plastic bags and Tupperware can be insufficient to provide a complete barrier to odor migration in the refrigerator.

Because the strong cheese smells can invade and affect other foods, some aficionados use cheese preservers (containers) with activated carbon filters. These do, admittedly, work relatively well, though they are expensive and not widely available. More discriminating aficionados use different kinds of wrapping/storage strategies for different kinds of cheeses: hard, aged cheeses (e.g., Parmigiana-Reggiano, aged Gouda) call for one kind of storage; blue cheeses (e.g., Gorgonzola, Roquefort) call for another kind; semi-hard and hard cheeses (cheddar, Swiss, Gruyere), call for yet another approach; soft, semi-soft, and stinky cheeses (goat, Camembert, brie, Limburger), call for another still. In other words, the cheese dictates the storage method and materials.

Another problem common to storing cheese is that it can exude or lose moisture, and if left sitting at the bottom of a storage container, the cheese can effectively be steeping in its own water. This promotes further undesirable bacterial growth.

What is needed is a universal cheese storage container that provides a simple and effective way of storing all types of cheese, particularly cheeses made without preservatives. The present invention provides such an apparatus.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a food storage container, more particularly a cheese vault, scaled for storing stinky, odiferous, smelly foots. The container is especially suited for storing one or more blocks of cheese in sizes typically found at the retail cheese counters. The storage container, at times referred to herein as a “vault,” comprises a food grade silicone box having a generally rigid bottom with surface features,—such as a graticulated or sawtooth (specifically, plain tooth) surface when viewed in cross section. Interior sides of the box include vertical slots or channels for the selective placement and removal of slidable divider panels in the box interior. The panels are used to selectively separate the box interior into two or more divided interior compartments. The panels engage the bottom surface features so as to create an odor barrier while at the same time the bottom surface features permit air circulation underneath a block of cheese within the compartment, thereby preventing pooling and puddling at the base of the cheese block.

The cheese vault further includes a container lid having pairs of parallel spaced-apart ribs on its underside. When placed on the box over installed divider panels, which insert into the side wall slots on the box interior and also engage the top edge of a divider panel placed in the corresponding slot. The bottom surface, divider panel, and lid cooperate to provide an enclosure that minimizes migration of odors between the compartments.

The foregoing summary broadly sets out the more important features of the present invention so that the detailed description that follows may be better understood, and so that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention which will form the subject matter of the claims to be presented in a non-provisional patent application claiming the benefit of the filing date of the instant application and as supported herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an upper exploded perspective view showing the inventive cheese vault with the lid removed and two divider panels poised for insertion in divider slots on the box interior sides;

FIG. 2 is a lower exploded perspective view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an view in elevation of the cheese vault with a lid installed;

FIG. 3B cross-sectional side view in elevation of the cheese vault taken along section line 3B-3B of FIG. 3, showing the vault with two divider panels installed;

FIG. 4 is an exploded upper perspective view showing the cheese vault used with a removable shallow box for holding cheese;

FIG. 5 is an upper perspective view showing the shallow box installed in the cheese vault with a transparent lid atop the box; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view in elevation thereof.

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views, there is illustrated therein a new and improved cheese storage vault, generally denominated 10 herein.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-3B there is shown an embodiment of the cheese vault 10 of the present invention. These views show collectively that the vault includes a cuboid box portion 12, either generally square or rectangular, and having sides 14, 16, ends 18, 20, and a bottom 22. The bottom has surface features 24, preferably regularly spaced ridges 26 (with peaks and troughs) creating a plain tooth sawtooth profile when viewed in cross-section (as seen, for instance, in FIG. 3B). The precise surface feature is less critical than the resulting function, which is that the surface features create a supported and slightly elevated surface (the peaks of the ridges) on which a cheese block can be placed, while also creating air channels (the troughs underneath the cheese) through which air can circulate.

It will be appreciated that the surface features need not have sharply pointed peaks, though these may be optimal, but could include any of a number of surface shapes to elevate and support a block of cheese while allowing air circulation underneath. Accordingly, the recitation of ridges is non-limiting.

Opposing interior sides 28, 30 of two sides 14, 16 of the box 12 include vertically disposed channels or slots 32, into which divider panels 34, 36 may be slidably and removably installed to separate the box interior into two, three, or more discrete compartments 38, 40, 42. When so installed, the bottom edge of the divider panels engages either the peak or the trough of the ridges to create a seal to assist in preventing odors from migrating from one compartment to the other (when the lid 44 is placed atop the box). To facilitate an improved sealing engagement, the bottom edge of the divider panels may be configured with a female V-shaped edge so as to fit “over” the pointed peak of one of the bottom surface sawtooth ridges, or a male beveled edge to fit into troughs of the same topography. Alternatively, any of a number of suitable male female types of configurations can be employed as cooperating bottom surface features and divider panel edges to provide an enhanced sealing engagement of such elements.

The final element, anticipated in the previous sentence, is the lid 44, which includes parallel spaced-apart ribs 46 which also slip into the slots 32 on the box interior and abut the top edge of any divider panel placed in the corresponding slot. The resilient material from which the structural elements are fabricated ensures that the edge-to-edge engagement of the rib and the divider panel created when the lid is pushed into the sealed position on the box provides an uppermost lid/panel seal 48 between divided compartments.

In an embodiment, the preferred material for the box itself is a food grade silicone compliant with 21 CFR 177.2600 (specifically, Part 177, Indirect Food Additives, Polymers; Subpart C, Substances for use only as components of articles intended for repeated use; Sec. 177.2600, Rubber articles intended for repeat use). However, other materials, such as glass, may be equally suitable. Additionally, the bottom surface features can be provided in a removable pad, insertable into a separate box sized to accommodate the pad as a floor on the bottom side, in a manner well known in the art.

Referring next to FIGS. 4-6, in another embodiment 60, the cheese vault may employ an insertable/removable shallow tray 62 having a perforated bottom 64 (or simply a plurality of air holes of any of a number of shapes disposed in the bottom). The tray holds and suspends a cheese block above the textured bottom surface 66 of the box 68 and provides an easy way to place and remove cheese without having the cheese block come into contact with the vault bottom surface. Because of the box sides, the divider panels 70, 72 must be shaped with side cut outs 74, such that when inserted into the interior slots 76 the divider panels can be entirely lowered and their bottom edges 78, 80, brought into engagement with the tray bottom 64. A lid 82 completes the enclosure.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the cheese vault of the present invention allows stored cheese or other odiferous foods to breathe. The textured bottom panel wicks away excess moisture, while the domed lid directs condensation outwardly and to the sides. The interior divider panels separate cheeses to prevent cross-contamination of neighboring cheeses with odors (and thus flavors). The food grade silicone provides a writable/erasable surface on which to identify contents and storage dates. 

What is claimed as invention is:
 1. A food storage container, comprising: a food containing portion including a bottom side having bottom surface features with differential heights, and further including sides with at least one pair of opposing vertical channels; at least one divider panel sized for selective placement in said at least one pair of opposing vertical channels, said at least one divider panel having an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein when slidably disposed in said at least one pair of opposing vertical channels, said bottom edge sealingly engages said bottom surface of said bottom side; and a lid having a bottom side that engages an upper edge of said at least one divider panel when said at least one divider panel is slidably disposed in said at least one pair of opposing vertical channels.
 2. The food storage container of claim 1, wherein said bottom edge of said at least one divider panel includes a male feature and said bottom surface of said bottom side includes a female surface feature which cooperates with said male feature to provide a sealing engagement.
 3. The food storage container of claim 2, wherein said at least one pair of opposing vertical channels are configured to bring said lower edge of said at least one divider panel into sealing engagement with said female surface feature of said bottom surface.
 4. The food storage container of claim 1, wherein said bottom edge of said at least one divider panel includes a female feature and said bottom surface of said bottom side includes a male surface feature which cooperates with said female feature to provide a sealing engagement.
 5. The food storage container of claim 4, wherein said at least one pair of opposing vertical channels are configured to bring said lower edge of said at least one divider panel into sealing engagement with said male surface feature of said bottom surface.
 6. The food storage container of claim 1, wherein said food containing portion is a box.
 7. The food storage container of claim 6, wherein said box is square.
 8. The food storage container of claim 6, wherein said box is rectangular.
 9. The food storage container of claim 1, wherein said lid includes at least one spaced-apart rib that engages said top edge of said at least one divider panel.
 10. The food storage container of claim 9, wherein said at least one rib is slidably disposed in said at least one pair of opposing channels.
 11. The food storage container of claim 1, wherein said bottom surface includes regularly spaced ridges creating a plain tooth sawtooth profile.
 12. The food storage container of claim 11, wherein said spaced ridges provide an elevated surface on which an article of food may be placed while also channels through which air may circulate underneath said food article.
 13. The food storage container of claim 1, wherein said food storage container is fabricated from a food grade silicone.
 14. The food storage container of claim 1, further including a removable support for placement on said bottom side.
 15. The food storage container of claim 14, wherein said removable support is a removable pad.
 16. The food storage container of claim 14, wherein said removable support is a removable tray.
 17. The food storage container of claim 16, wherein said removable tray includes a plurality of air holes in a bottom side.
 18. The food storage container of claim 17, wherein said removable tray includes a perimeter side, and at least one divider panel includes side cut outs that enable insertion into said removable tray so as to bring said lower edge into engagement with the tray bottom.
 19. A cheese vault, comprising: a box having a bottom and sides, said sides including interior surfaces with at least one pair of opposing panel slots, said box defining a cheese storage compartment; at least one divider panel sized for slidable insertion in said at least one pair of opposing panel slots and having a bottom edge and a top edge; and a lid; wherein when said at least one divider panel is slidably inserted into said at least pair of opposing panel slots, and said lid is placed atop said box, said storage compartment is divided into a plurality of sealed cheese storage compartments.
 20. The cheese vault of claim 19, including a plurality of opposing panel slots, wherein said cheese storage compartment can be divided into compartments having different volumes. 